“I know nothing” was the comic catchphrase of Sgt. Schultz on Hogan’s Heroes. He occasionally varied or elaborated on it, adding “I see nothing.” In the clip below, for example, he declares, “I see nothing. I was not here. I did not even get up this morning.”
After its customary warning to protect civilian life, the IDF took out the 12-story Jala Tower housing Hamas military intelligence offices as well as offices for media organs including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press. As far as I can tell from reports such as this photo-filled story in the Daily Mail, no lives were lost in the bombing.
The Biden administration nevertheless found the occasion fit to lecture Israel yesterday “that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility.” According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli authorities have showed Biden administration officials the “smoking gun” proving that Hamas worked out of the building. I demand proof that intelligent life exists within the Biden administration.
Hearing of Israel’s treatment of the building as a target, I wondered about the cluelessness of the AP. The AP, however, thinks it is in a position to bitch and make demands of its own. In the statement embedded in the tweet below, the AP goes full Sgt. Schultz on us.
AP CEO: "AP’s bureau has been in this building for 15 years. We have had no indication Hamas was in the building or active in the building. This is something we actively check to the best of our ability. We'd never knowingly put our journalists at risk."https://t.co/8UOXMXqwc2 pic.twitter.com/cd4nJFBEiL
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) May 15, 2021
By contrast with Sgt. Schultz, the AP’s alleged cluelessness lacks a comic element. Taking the AP seriously, I demand evidence that the AP didn’t know it was holed up with genocidal terrorists. If such proof is forthcoming, I demand proof that the AP is a bona fide news organization.
Absent such proof, we may have to limit ourselves to a demonstration of the internal contradictions of the Associated Press. The invaluable Andy Ngo provides it in the devastating tweet below.
Israel says your building also housed Hamas military assets. All of you were given warning to evacuate, which you did, before the place was destroyed. And AP last year released guidelines saying journalists shouldn’t focus on property destruction. https://t.co/ve6i2NTwIe
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 15, 2021
Jack Posobiec adds an exclamation point. The exclamation point is appropriate to the case.
AP stated we must not focus on property destruction it is only the underlying grievance that matters! https://t.co/qnZsQJNrtK
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) May 15, 2021
Via Nick Arama/RedState and Brett T./Twitchy.
UPDATE: Omri Ceren adds this.
Hamas systematically uses the media towers and studios in Gaza for military purposes. They've been doing it since they took over in late 2000s. It would count as an open secret but it's not even a secret. Anyone who pretends they don't know is either very new to this, or lying. pic.twitter.com/VIX5H0p05h
— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) May 16, 2021